Centre taking steps to boost milk producers income: Nitin Gadkari

Gadkari also stressed on the need to change the crop pattern.

To boost export of dairy products, the Centre will give a 10 per cent incentive said Union minister Nitin Gadkari on Tuesday while urging agitating farmers to maintain calm.

Government is also considering distributing milk through midday meal scheme and anganwadis as part of steps to ensure better returns to producers.

Gadkari’s comments came against the background of ongoing protest by milkmen in Maharashtra to seek higher milk procurement prices. They are also demanding a Rs 5/l subsidy for milk.

Asserting that the government was "serious" about farmers' problems, Gadkari assured that import of dairy items, if any, would be checked immediately even as the government was also contemplating providing dairy products as aid to some nations instead of funds.

Among other steps, the minister said, "We are contemplating that instead of financial aid to nations, can we provide them with milk powder and products."

Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh, who was in Assam participated in the meeting through video conferencing.

Milk producers and farmers in several parts are protesting demanding a hike in procurement price of milk. Milk tankers were blocked on Monday in several districts of Maharashtra by protesters demanding hike in procurement price.

Agitators blocked milk tankers in Pune, Nashik, Ahmednagar, Buldhana, Jalgaon and other places and emptied some of them on roads.